Shoebax

ABSTRACT

This invention, called “Shoebax”, is designed to slide over the open heel portion of a shoe, creating a smooth detachable back of the shoe. 
     The invention has a sheath that slides over the heel of the shoe. The invention provides a shoe backing which is fastened by way of an anklet (tied or buckled). 
     The purpose of the invention is to prevent clothing from sliding between the in-sole of the shoe and the heel of the foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The impetus of the invention arose because some shoes (particularlysling backs) allow the back hemline of slacks or skirts to slide betweenthe insole of the shoe and heel of the foot.

The invention relates to the class of inventions in which fasteners,clips and/or similar devices are placed on footwear.

The applicant is not aware of US Patents that pertain to this type ofdevice.

The Applicant has obtained a provisional patent (61/399,402).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Shoebax is an invention designed for use on women's footwear. The broadpurpose of the invention is to provide wearers of footwear (particularlysling back shoes) a decorative, simulated and removable device allowingthe clothing (e.g. pant hems, skirts) to be worn naturally.

When viewed from bottom to top, the device resembles a 2-dimensionallight bulb.

The base of the invention has a sheath to allow the Shoebax to slide onthe heel of the shoe.

The “heel sheath” is stitched to fabric or plastic that provides theactual shoe-backing.

The invention can be folded to adjust for the height of the shoe heel.The invention contains a sheath at the top with holes on either end topermit the anklet (i.e. the brace) to slide through. The anklet or braceis wrapped around the ankle for fastening.

The anklet is a thin piece of material or plastic approximately 6″ to12″ in length. It slides through the sheath in the shoe back. It can betied or in some versions, a buckle is used to fasten the Shoebax aroundthe ankle.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a standard sling back shoe without the Shoebax invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the Shoebax before it is attached to awoman's sling back shoe.

FIG. 3 shows the Poly Spandex Shoebax attached to a sling back shoe (fordemonstration purposes)

FIG. 4 shows the plastic Shoebax from the side. It operates inessentially the same manner as the Poly Spandex Shoebax.

FIG. 5 shows the buckle that is used to fasten the anklet.

FIG. 6 shows the plastic Shoebax attached to a sling back shoe (fordemonstration purposes).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the sling back shoe without the invention.This is provided for demonstration purposes.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the Shoebax before it is attached to awoman's sling back shoe.

Part 1-A This diagram shows the thin sheath that attaches (slidesthrough) to the heel of the shoe.

Part 1-B The material is elastic, made of strands of rubber and latexweaved together. It is designed to fit most heels. It comes in 2 sizes:

Small to medium Fits (most) 9×10 cm thru 15×15 cm

Medium to Large Fits (most) 18×18 cm thru 16×25 cm

PART 2-A Part-A shows the concave-shaped backing (“the shoe back”) thatfits behind the heel for the shoe wearer.

The fabric is Poly Spandex. The material is designed to be flexible (itcan stretch and recoil) in accordance with its purpose—to fit round theheel of the shoe wearer.

The backing is made from 2 pieces of fabric (Pieces A and B) which arestitched together with ¼″ seam allowance. Pieces A and B are stitchedutilizing a right-side to right side “stay stitch” using a ¼″ seamallowance.

PART 2-B Part 2-B shows the top portion of the concave-backing. It showswhere the Poly-Spandex material is folded over and stitched, to create atube-like sheath for insertion of the anklet.

PART 3 Part 3 shows the thin anklet strap that fastens around the ankletand is tied (like a shoelace). The hollow portion in the middle of Part3 represents the area where the shoe-wearers ankle would be. The strapis made of the same Poly-Spandex material as the backing.

PART 3-B Part 3-B shows the front portion of the anklet where it istied.

FIG. 3 FIG. 3 shows the Shoebax attached to a sling back shoe (fordemonstration purposes)

Part 2-B shows the elastic bottom of the Shoebax attached to a slingback shoe.

FIG. 4 FIG. 4 shows the plastic Shoebax from the side. It operates inessentially the same manner as the Poly Spandex Shoebax.

Part 1-A Part 1-A shows the thin plastic sheath that attaches to theheel of the sling back shoe.

Part 1-B Part 1-B shows the holds at either end of the sheath that isdesigned to slide on to heels. It is designed to fit most heels. Itcomes in 2 sizes:

Small to Medium Fits (most) 9 × 10 cm thru 15 × 15 cm Medium to LargeFits (most 18 × 18 cm thru 16 × 25 cm

Part 2-A Part 2-A shows the backing that fits around the heel. Theplastic is designed to be flexible (it can stretch and recoil) inaccordance with its purpose—to fit around the heel of the shoe wearer.

The backing is made from 1 thin sheath of plastic

Part 2-B Part 2-B shows the top portion of the plastic shoe back. Itshows where the plastic backing is folded over and stitched, to create atube-like sheath for the insertion of the anklet.

Part 3 Part 3 shows the thin strap that fastens around the ankle and isfastened with a buckle (like a belt). The hollow portion in the middlerepresents the area where the shoe-wearers ankle would be. The strap ismade of the same plastic material as the backing. It contains severalholes for the fastening of the buckle.

Part 4 Part 4 shows the buckle that is fastened on the front portion ofthe anklet.

FIG. 5 FIG. 5 shows the buckle that is used to fasten the anklet.

The buckle measures approximately 1 cm×1cm. It is made from plastic.

The fastening strap (similar to a belt used for trousers) adjustsdepending on the ankle width.

FIG. 6 FIG. 6 shows the plastic Shoebax attached to a sling back shoe(for demonstration purposes)

Part 1-A Part 1-A shows the elastic bottom of the Shoebax attached to asling back shoe.

1. A combination of interconnecting fabric or plastic comprised of alower portion, a middle portion and an upper portion which togethercomprise an adjustable and removable backing device designed to beflexible and adjust to the heel and ankle of the shoe-wearer.
 2. Asstated in claim 1, the lower portion comprises a thin sheath of materialto slide over the heel portion of a shoe. The sheath is elastic and isdesigned to be flexible to fit most heels on footwear on the market, butalso designed to fit tightly to the heel. It is stitched and melded tothe shoe-backing fabric or plastic (the middle portion).
 3. As stated inclaim 1, the middle portion comprises the functional aspect of theShoebax. This portion comprises material in the form of fabric, plasticor some other material that is designed to secure the foot on abackless, sling back type of shoe. The shoe backing is kept secure byway of the upper portion (the anklet/strap) and it is secured to theshoe by way of attachment to the heel (the lower portion).
 4. As statedin claim 1, the upper portion contains a strap that is designed to slideinto a thin sheath or opening at the top of the shop back. The anklet isdesigned to wrap around and fasten to the ankle by way of a buckle. 5.As stated in claim 1, the upper portion may alternatively contain astrap that is made from fabric that is designed to slide through a thinsheath or opening at the top of the shoe back and to tie around the shoewearers' ankle for fastening (in contrast to the use of a buckle).